CHESTER, Pa. – The Widener University athletic department mourns the loss of Jack Klotz '56.
 
The Chester native was a standout for Pennsylvania Military College in multiple sports, earning 12 varsity letters combined between football, baseball, basketball, and track & field. He is most noted for his mark on the gridiron where, as an offensive lineman, he helped PMC to a 7-0 record in 1954, giving the school its first undefeated season since 1888. It was also the first of 20 Middle Atlantic Conference championships for PMC/Widener and the first ever MAC title for any school in football.
 
In the spring following his 1956 graduation, Klotz was drafted twice, once by the Los Angeles Rams in the 18th round of the NFL draft – and by the United States Army. Rather than choosing between the two, Klotz enlisted in the Marines where he served as an MP until 1959, primarily at Camp Pendleton.
 
Following an honorable discharge, Klotz did see his professional football dreams come true at the age of 27, playing five years in the AFL. He appeared in all 14 games for the New York Titans in 1960, and started 12 of them. He again appeared in all 14 Titans games in 1961 before splitting time between the Titans and San Diego Chargers in 1962. He returned to the newly renamed New York Jets in 1963 before finishing his football career with the Houston Oilers in 1964. All told, he appeared in 55 professional games.
 
As his playing days concluded, Klotz returned home to Chester, working for CityTeam for more than 25 years as both the development officer and later the recovery program.
 
Klotz was inducted into the Middle Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Widener Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.